With Ashley Williams set to complete his exit from the Liberty Stadium, it leaves Swansea City heading into the new Premier League campaign without a captain.

While Federico Fernandez, Jordi Amat and new boy Mike van der Hoorn will battle it out to step into the centre-back role Williams held for eight years, it’s not so straight forward as to who will take on the honour of the armband when the Wales skipper turns out in Toffee blue this month.

Williams led Swansea out in the Championship under various bosses before being formally handed the armband by Garry Monk in 2013.

And with the 31-year-old expected to complete his Goodison switch within the next 24 hours, it means Swansea need a new man to become captain and follow in the footsteps of Roberto Martinez, Monk and Williams – the three men who have led the Swans dressing room on their rise of the past 12 years.

It’s not an obvious choice facing Francesco Guidolin – who would surely lean on club stalwart Alan Curtis to make such a decision – but here we look at the likely contenders for the captaincy.

LEON BRITTON

Longest-serving player, club icon, widely respected, knows how the club operates and the ideal link between decision-makers and dressing room – all signs would surely point to the midfielder being named skipper and being a fitting choice to add to the aforementioned names.

Not afraid to call it as he sees it – a trait often needed as captain – but there are no guarantees the 33-year-old (34 next month) will be a regular in Guidolin’s side. Perhaps the best decision would be for him to be club captain and the matchday skipper role given to others as and when it’s needed.

JACK CORK

Jack Cork goes for the ball during a pre-season game against Rennes (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

The 27-year-old has only been at Swansea for a little more than 18 months but he already seems part of the furniture and steeped in the standards and values needed for success at the Liberty. Likely to be a regular, leads by all-action example and clearly fancied by Guidolin as a leader in the making having been handed the armband for the win at West Ham at the end of last season.

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LUKASZ FABIANSKI

Lukasz Fabianski (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

A player with a fair amount of experience from his time at Arsenal and on the international scene and someone never afraid to front up and take accountability when the side is going through tough times. Perhaps the most obvious regular starter in the squad but not the loudest and there are those who shy away from making keepers skippers.

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ANGEL RANGEL

Angel Rangel

Another long-serving Swan who has skippered the side in the past – in the 3-0 win at Valencia no less – and would have no problem commanding the respect of the rest of the squad. Has been a senior figure for some time and often seen as integral as a harmonising link between the existing players and those from a foreign field having become an assimilated Welshman following his move from Spain in 2007.

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WAYNE ROUTLEDGE

Wayne Routledge (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Might not appear like captaincy material from the outside but one of the most senior men in the dressing room who – when he does speak – does so with plenty of intelligence about the game. Captained the side in pre-season.

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GYLFI SIGURDSSON

Gylfi Sigurdsson scores from the spot against Everton last season (Image: Getty Images)

Would be a popular pick after the boost he delivered by signing a new four-year deal. Another seemingly quiet type but is also talismanic on the field with the standard of his performances and showed plenty of leadership qualities during the Euros with Iceland.

NEIL TAYLOR

Cut from similar cloth as his Wales teammate Williams in that he demands the best of himself and others around him, never shirking a challenge along the way. Another player seen as one of the senior men in the Swansea dressing room whose opinions are valued and respected.